18 Titles At Stake In L.v. Masters Junior Bowling

The event we've all been waiting for has finally arrived as 216 bowlers battle it out for 18 titles in the 26th Lehigh Valley Junior Masters Tournament at Boulevard Lanes this weekend.

Action gets under way at 10 a.m. today when the 12 qualifiers from each of the nine boys divisions will roll two games. At 11 the girls will bowl their first block. The top eight survivors from each division will then roll two more games with the boys going on at noon and the girls at 1 p.m. After the four games, the top four bowlers will return tomorrow for the semifinal and final rounds starting at 1 p.m. Total pinfall will carry over throughout the finals.

Total entries from the six districts in the Junior Masters this year was 2,175 which bettered last year's tally by exactly 100. Considering there are only 216 bowlers remaining - it is quite an accomplishment just to have made it this far.

The girls' field is star-studded this year as three distaffers attempt to defend their titles of last year. JoAnne Gravle of Stroudsburg, last year's Major B champ, will be competing in Major A today. Allentown's Linda McKee will be trying to repeat in the Major C division while Candy Batchelder of Pottstown, last year's Major D winner, will challenge her for the Major C crown.

Also competing will be past winners Debby Lutz (Major C - 1983) and Carrie Snyder (Major C - 1982) in the Major B and A divisions, respectively. On the boys' side Chris Pagotto of Northampton, last year's Minor B runnerup, will try to avenge that loss in the Minor A division.

In qualifying the high scores rolled overall were both posted in District Six (Reading area). Diane Schafer of Berks Lanes belted out an 869 four-game set in the Major A class while George Moutafis of Heister Lanes rolled a 915 in the Major B group.

It should be a super event, showcasing the best Junior bowlers in all age and average groups, so we hope many parents, friends, and relatives come out to cheer for their favorite bowler.

JUNIOR LEADERS

In the recent Junior Leaders Tournament at Rose Bowl, Cory Mest, an 18- year-old Allen graduate, was a one-man show in the handicap division stepladder finals, coming from fifth place to win the title.

Cory, a PAL Rose Bowl member, entered the tournament with a 149-average and proceeded to average 187 for 10 games shooting four games of 200 or better.

"That's the best I've ever bowled. All year long I had trouble shooting 500s. In the tournament I had more 200s than I had all season," replied Cory.

In the finals Cory defeated Kyle Miller 226-206, Mark Kinsell 213-207, Ronnie Scholler 250-180, and Dave Gardner 240-237. (scores include handicap.) Cory rolled actual sets of 556 and 574 in qualifying, and 749 for four in the finals.

The other finalists must be given credit as well since Dave (123- averager), Ronnie (142), Mark (140), and Kyle (135) averaged 176, 180, 181, and 175, respectively, throughout the contest. Ronnie and Dave rolled sets of 601 and 590 actual during the qualifying. That's some great shooting!

For information about the next Junior Leaders Tournament, contact David Gehman at 965-8729. It will be a Holiday Doubles Tournament to be held at Boulevard Lanes Friday April 5.

600 CLUB

A couple of area Juniors seem to be on top of their games just in time for the Masters finals today. Eighteen-year-old John Kirchner, a qualifier in the Major A division, has been red hot the last couple of weeks shooting 652 and 680 back-to-back in the Odd Balls League at Slate Bowl.

He achieved his goal of a 190 average by a single pin the last week of his league's competition by rolling singles of 225-245-210 for the 680. John is a graduate of Northern Lehigh High School and is very active in his community serving as volunteer Fire Marshall of Walnutport and an emergency medical technician for the Slatington ambulance.

"I'm really looking forward to the Masters since this is the first time I've made the finals," stated John. "I'll be concentrating on staying slow and converting all my spares."

Another Masters hopeful is 18-year-old Dale Miller, who just recorded a 607 on games of 205-200-202 in the Junior Kingpins League at Mountainville. The Allen graduate, now a Penn State-Allentown freshman majoring in computer science, will be seeking a Masters title in the Major B division.

Recently Dale bought a new AMF Black Angle which seems to be elevating his scores. He is psyched to bowl today and hopes to better his brother Darryl's fourth-place Masters finish of a few years ago.

Also rolling a 600 this week was 17-year-old Jeff Weaver, a Saucon Valley junior. Jeff, who attends Vo-Tech to learn the plumbing trade, belted out singles of 242-206-168 for his first 600 at Olympian Lanes.